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Thursday, January 5, 2012

We humans are so interesting! We choose every new year to write our resolutions; we start exercise programs, dieting plans, set out to find mates, and attempt to start anew. What is interesting, is we can choose to do that any day during the year; we can start anew any second if we just put our heart and minds into it. We could choose to alter our perspective on life, on our state of being and how we view anything that crosses our path. I like knowing that I have that power. I like knowing I can see the glass as half full, half empty, or for that matter, completely empty or completely full!

So, how do you see your life? Does your perspective need some tweaking? Is your perspective of your self based on what is going on externally in your life? Have you ever stopped to really get to know yourself and connect to your core? Do you even know your core? That pure essence of who you are? Art is a great way to explore these aspects of ourselves that we may be unfamiliar with. Collage is a beautiful way to start the exploration.

Start cutting out magazine images that reflect aspects of who you are...not necessarily what you like, but deep inside; the parts of you that might include your "shadow" side, which is the part of you that you don't like to reveal to others or that you might be ashamed of or judge. Let them all hang out together and get to know each other. Play with each of their perspectives of life and of you.Glue the images down. Maybe there are conflicting aspects of you: the silly side, the serious side, the outgoing side and the shy side. Get to know them and explore how they have shaped your perspectives on not only life in general, but on YOU. See what changes might need to be made to make your world and how you view yourself less critical and more loving and accepting. Notice the old tapes that need to be deleted. Such as, "I'm too fat;" "I can't be loved unless______." "If it's not perfect...it's not ok." See what you come up with and get to know all of you and how you see the world and yourself! Have fun with the collage and discovering your essence...you might like what you find!

Feel free to contact me at: Victoria@arttherapyla.com

2018 WOMEN'S CREATIVITY WORKSHOPS

Process art is a powerful tool to decrease anxiety, manage depression and promote healing. In these 3-hour workshops, you will work with collage, mixed-media, mandalas and paint that requires no art training...learn as you go. Relax and have fun. Connect with others. No art experience required. Safe and supportive setting. $40. Paypal link below. Questions, contact me at: 310-922-3957.

Second and fourth Saturday of every month. (some changes may occur.)

Are you interested in exploring your creative side? Curious about what "creativity" is exactly? Then this circle is for you! Learn easy and fun techniques such as art journaling, mandalas, and paper collage to help you unleash your creative spirit. Using your intuition rather than your thinking brain you are invited to combine different mediums or stick with one. If you already keep a written journal, learn to add collage, paint and color. Learn how having a creative practice can relieve stress and add joy to your life! Each week, you will learn a new technique to add to your creative process. No art exp. required. Have fun and tap into your creative side. Supplies provided, but feel free to bring your own.

Interview With Shelley Klammer

Recently, I was interviewed by Shelley Klammer for her Expressive Art Workshop site and newsletter. Shelley is located in Vancouver and offers many different types of creativity programs online. Our interview can be found here: Creativity and Art.

You can also go to this site to see all that Shelley offers and all the amazing work she does.

My Favorite Creativity Sites

Art Journaling for Women

Art Journaling

ART FUN

Mixed Media

Other Creative Opportunities

I can work with you whether you are in Los Angeles or outside of the Los Angeles area. If you are not local, we can arrange to do phone sessions. If you are feeling blocked creatively and in need of creative mentoring, I'm happy to support you in that area as well. I'm available to come to you for one-on-one and women's creative group sessions. I lead monthly The Art of Mandalas, Open Mixed Media Art Salons and Paper Collage Techniques workshops.

Sometimes our lives are just too busy to make a weekly commitment or, we have an illness or some other life limitation that makes it difficult or impossible to get to sessions. I am here to work with you via phone and whatever works for you.

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How to Choose a Therapist?

So, you've been told you should see a therapist or, you have come to the conclusion by yourself that you need help and support through a difficult life event. So, now what do you do? You are too embarrassed to ask a friend for a referral. You decide to go online and search the therapist sites, but come up blank because there are so many of them. And really have no clue how to select a therapist that is a good fit for you. Here's what you do:

!. Decide if you want see a man or a woman or if it doesn't matter.

2. Know the approximate age range of the therapist you would feel most comfortable with.

3. Do you need someone who takes insurance or out of pocket only?

4. If you have a specific issue you need help with ask them what their experience is with that issue.

5. Bottom line, when it comes to selecting a therapist, the most important thing to be aware of is whether you feel comfortable and safe with the clinician.

Rainbow Mandala

2017 WOMEN'S CREATIVITY WORKSHOPS

Saturdays, November 11th & 25th.

1-4PM

Process art is a powerful tool to decrease anxiety, manage depression and promote healing. In these 3-hour workshops, you will work with collage, mixed-media, mandalas and paint that requires no art training...learn as you go. Relax and have fun. Connect with others. No art experience required. Safe and supportive setting. $40. Paypal link below. Questions, contact me at: 310-922-3957.

Second and fourth Saturday of every month. (some changes may occur.)

Are you interested in exploring your creative side? Curious about what "creativity" is exactly? Then this circle is for you! Learn easy and fun techniques such as art journaling, mandalas, and paper collage to help you unleash your creative spirit. Using your intuition rather than your thinking brain you are invited to combine different mediums or stick with one. If you already keep a written journal, learn to add collage, paint and color. Learn how having a creative practice can relieve stress and add joy to your life! Each week, you will learn a new technique to add to your creative process. No art exp. required. Have fun and tap into your creative side. Supplies provided, but feel free to bring your own.

Grief & Art Expression

Healing Grief with ART

We are all familiar with the 5 stages of grief: Denial, Anger, Bargaining, Depression and Acceptance. Though they don't always happen in that order, research has discovered, at some point in the grief process, you will most likely experience an aspect of these emotions. Grief surfaces when we have a loss in our life. That loss can include health, a relationship, a pet, a job, and/or a child leaving home. What arises are a roller coaster of emotions that can have us feeling lost, alone, depressed, angry, and out of control.

Art is one way to express the array of feelings that come up. Putting down on paper what words might not be able to express, is one way to aid in the healing process of grief. Art has a way of releasing the tension that comes along with grief. It gives us a place to unload our feelings and calm our soul. Art provides a container in which to hold what we are feeling and a safe place to put them. We give a voice to what we are experiencing by putting down on paper the colors, shapes and images that represent what is in our heart. We get a break from the pain as we paint, draw, collage, work with clay and focus our attention on the creative process. It is not to say the feelings of grief go away, it means we are given a few moments to allow our grief to speak and to invite calm in.

Having an understanding and respect for the grief process is important to the healing process and our emotional well-being.

Peacefully,

Victoria

Mixed Media

COLLAGE 101

Having Fun with Collage

YOUR BRAIN ON ART THERAPY

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Follow your bliss.If you do follow your bliss,you put yourself on a kind of trackthat has been there all the while waiting for you,and the life you ought to be livingis the one you are living.When you can see that,you begin to meet peoplewho are in the field of your bliss,and they open the doors to you.I say, follow your bliss and don't be afraid,and doors will openwhere you didn't know they were going to be.If you follow your bliss,doors will open for you that wouldn't have opened for anyone else.